BACKGROUND

Family and Community Medicine is a medical specialty that plays a crucial role in the healthcare system and will be in the best capacity to provide primary care services, coordinate referrals to specialists when needed, and promote continuity of care across different healthcare settings in the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law. These are policy recommendations on how family and community medicine can play a significant role in the successful implementation of the UHC.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation #1. The undergraduate curriculum in Family and Community Medicine must be competency based.

Recommendation #2. The competency outcome of Family and Community Medicine undergraduate curriculum must be aligned with the need of the Philippine health system in the context of Universal Health Care reform.

Recommendation #3. The process of delivery of Family and Community Medicine undergraduate curriculum must adopt to new technology and teaching innovation.

Recommendation #4. Family and Community Medicine must develop strategies to make it as career choice.

Recommendation #5. Family and Community Medicine must develop and implement an effective and sustainable faculty development program.

Recommendation #6. Family and Community Medicine must be socially accountable to the community it serves.

Recommendation #7. Family and Community Medicine must be one of the major core competencies of a licensed physician ready to practice as primary care provider in the UHC.

Recommendation #8. Early placement for Family and Community Medicine practice must be available for newly licensed physicians.

Recommendation #9. Family and Community Medicine practitioners must be provided with continuing professional education and training to provide quality patient care.

Recommendation #10. Family and Community Medicine postgraduate education and training must adopt to new technology and training innovation.

Recommendation #11. Family and Community Medicine postgraduate training should cover urban and rural community health service.

Recommendation #12. Family and Community Medicine continuing professional education and training programs must meet the prescribed standards.

Recommendation #13. Regulation of Family and Community Medicine practice must be a public-private partnership.

Human ; Universal Health Care ; Policy Making ; Community Health Services